Due to phenomenal demand, day tickets for the 2014 SONISPHERE festival, headlined by THE PRODIGY, IRON MAIDEN and METALLICA are now on sale, with Friday tickets priced at £55 and the Saturday and Sunday at £75 per day. In addition, camping add-ons are available to day ticket holders for £35 and for those looking to really treat themselves, a ‘King For A Day’ * package is available (see footnote for more info).

With no clashes across the two main stages and sensitively timed sets across the tented stages, SONISPHERE ensures ticket holders get the most for their money, negating the need for any painful decisions on who to watch. The full list of bands so far and their respective performance days are outlined below, but not before a further fourteen names who join the stellar line up are revealed.

BAND OF SKULLS make their Knebworth debut at SONISPHERE this summer. The Southampton rock’n’roll trio come armed with bluesy and ballsy slabs of rock that have seen them making waves far beyond the shores of their coastal hometown. Support slots with the likes of Muse, Queens Of The Stone Age and The Dead Weather, an Independent Music Award for “Sweet Sour”, a feature documentary on Channel 4 and huge support from Radio One has seen BAND OF SKULLS become a household name in the UK, with the rest of the world standing to attention and taking notice.

GARY NUMAN returns to Knebworth in support of his acclaimed new album “Splinter”. Highly regarded and massively influential, NUMAN is undoubtedly one of Electronic music’s pioneers, with megastars such as Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson and Dave Grohl citing him as an inspiration. An industrial rock powerhouse, GARY NUMAN at SONISPHERE is a must see for those looking for a darker, more gothic summer, with the promise of hits such as “Cars”, “Down In The Park” and “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”.

It’s rare for a band to wait 14 years between albums, and even rarer for the subsequent album to be unanimously declared a masterpiece by both fans and critics alike, yet legendary British metallers CARCASS managed to do just that with last year’s “Surgical Steel”. Just as angry and hungry as they were on their 1988 debut “Reek Of Putrefaction”, Bill Steer and Jeff Walker show none of the fatigue or complacency common in bands over a quarter century old, and their set at SONISPHERE will be total and utter aural annihilation.

“A chance to play on the same day as IRON MAIDEN at Sonisphere? Please sign us up!” exclaims bassist/vocalist Jeff Walker. “Nevermind the fact that Bill Steer (guitar) is a BIG Chas & Dave fan- as if that wasn’t enough to cement the deal already!”

Post Punk heroes NEW MODEL ARMY make their Knebworth debut at SONISPHERE this summer. In their 34 years, Justin Sullivan and co’s punk ethos, poetic and inspiring lyrics and gargantuan tunes have earned them a large and loyal cult following, including one Max Cavalera, who covered “The Hunt” on Sepultura’s 1993 Chaos A.D album.

NEW MODEL ARMY released their acclaimed “Between Dog and Wolf” album in 2013, their highest charting album in 20 years, and following the success of this, will release a live album taken from the accompanying European tour later this year.

Said Justin Sullivan, lead singer/songwriter and founder of the band; “We are very much looking forward to playing Sonisphere, and in particular playing at the legendary Knebworth House. This will be the first time we have played both.”

It would be easy to call THE WINERY DOGS a supergroup: vocalist and guitarist Richie Kotzen made his mark with Poison and Mr. Big, where he met TWD bassist Billy Sheehan, who in turn has been rocking for decades with Steve Vai, David Lee Roth and others, and drummer Mike Portnoy was the co-founder of progressive metal superstars Dream Theater. But THE WINERY DOGS are so much more than a supergroup, and their cohesive, well rounded, classic sounding rock, interspersed with jaw dropping moments that only musicians of this caliber can create, will prove why at SONISPHERE’s Saturn stage. Drummer Mike Portnoy states:

“So excited to be playing Sonisphere at the legendary Knebworth! This will be The Winery Dogs’ premiere festival performance and it couldn’t have been at a better one than this!”

THE BRONX make their way over from Los Angeles to Knebworth for the first time to heat things up in BOHEMIA. Last year’s “The Bronx – IV” album – the product of a band that’s survived two near-death experiences involving their tour van, weathered label problems that undermined their previous two albums, and turned a rebellious statement into a touring and recording Mariachi band- saw a band still at the top of their game, appearing in album of the year lists across the rock media.

Their inimitable hardcore punk swagger, a reputation for blistering live shows, and anthems such as “Heart Attack American”, “Knifeman” and “False Alarm” will make for a highly energetic and wet-with-sweat set that is not to be missed. The band says:

“Congratulations England. After years of angry letters and crude protests, the Bronx will finally be exposing itself at Sonisphere 2014. Take the necessary measures to ensure you don’t fucking miss it. We love you. God save the Queen”

No strangers to SONISPHERE and a band who require little introduction, Watford punks GALLOWS return to Knebworth to lay waste to the BOHEMIA stage on Sunday. With new music to showcase, as well as fan faves such as “In The Belly Of A Shark”, “Outsider Art” and “Abandon Ship”, the very structure of the big blue tent is in danger as the band warn:

“We’re ripping up Sonisphere on the Sunday. Good times only, fuck the posers. New music on its way.”

Sheffield’s 65daysofstatic join the SONISPHERE line up, hot off the back of a sold out UK tour in support of new album “Wild Light”. Prog, math, electronic, experimental, instrumental – 65dos have been called all these things, but we suggest you let the music do the talking and let them drop your jaws at their set in BOHEMIA on Friday.

“The best thing about all those people who like rock music and allow festivals like Sonisphere to thrive are that they usually have no preconceptions and are open to all other types of music too.’ Says guitarist Paul Wolinski. “So we’re looking forward to being the weird, noisy outliers at this festival, knowing that the people there are still going to give us the time of day. In return, we promise to be loud”.

With over 20 million records sold, starring roles on Broadway (“Jekyll & Hyde” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”), regular TV work and a stint playing the lead in a touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar”, there’s no doubting SEBASTIAN BACH’s destiny to entertain. His Saturday set on BOHEMIA will be a show to remember, with songs from both his solo career as well as Skid Row hits like “Youth Gone Wild”, “Monkey Business” and “Slave To The Grind” on offer.

“I am beyond excited and honored to play the legendary Sonisphere Festival this summer at Knebworth in England!” shouts Sebastian. “This is by far the biggest festival in all of the UK with the biggest bands and the biggest audience and I am proud to share the stage with the greatest bands in the history of rock ‘n roll. See you this summer at Sonisphere, let’s get wild!!!!!”

Having laid waste to Alexandra Palace at last winter’s Vans Warped Tour, CHIODOS return to the UK armed with a new album and a very high bar to raise. With frontman Craig Owen’s incredible knack for pushing both himself and the audience before him to the limits, anyone hoping for a quiet Sunday at SONISPHERE is in for a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. Says guitarist Brad Bell:

“We haven’t spent a lot of time in the UK in the past and to be able to come back for Sonisphere and play with some of the world’s most iconic bands is going to be an overwhelming experience. We can’t wait to play for our long time fans and new fans, especially with our new music from of our upcoming album – Devil.”

With a frontman who has led one of the craziest lives ever documented and with a name like BAM MARGERA’s FUCKFACE UNSTOPPABLE, one thing SONISPHERE can be sure of amidst the chaos and unpredictability of such an act is that no one will be leaving their set without a smile. Says Bam:

“Thanks for inviting me to your party Sonisphere, I’ll be happy to throw gas on your fire. Uh, I mean petrol.”

Legendary punks ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE also join the 2014 line up. Performing on the Sunday, don’t be too surprised if you see a few members of that night’s headliners watching…

“It’s great to be asked to play Sonisphere this year,” says frontman Animal. “It’s a great festival…….and on the same day as my ol’ buddies Metallica…batting with the big boyz again eh!……LET THE GAMES BEGIN!”

LITTLE MATADOR, who you may have seen supporting NINE INCH NAILS or QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, bring their brash, aggressive rock to KNEBWORTH. Says lead singer Nathan Connolly:

“We’re really excited to be playing at Sonisphere. Knebworth is such an iconic place and to be part of 40 years of rock history will be an honour. We promise to crank it up as loud as we can!!”

Last but by no means least SONISPHERE welcomes THE LOUNGE KITTENS, a Southampton based trio singing beautiful 3 part harmonies – over all your favorite songs. Brought to the attention of SONISPHERE by Fred Durst himself, check out their cover of “Rollin” for a taste of what to expect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x1EU3qKsUg

With more acts to be announced in the coming weeks, the list of bands so far by day and stage order, is as follows:

Friday

APOLLO STAGE:

THE PRODIGY
LIMP BIZKIT
BAND OF SKULLS
GARY NUMAN
ANTI-FLAG
THE DEFILED

Individual day and weekend tickets for SONISPHERE 2014 are on sale now at www.sonisphere.co.uk. The highly popular deposit scheme is available until 1st April, meaning fans have less than two weeks to reserve their tickets for an initial payment of just £50. Check the Sonisphere website for further details.

* Sonisphere 2014 King for a Day (VIP Day Pass)
Have you ever been to a festival and wondered what it would be like to be King (or Queen) for a day? – No? Neither have we. But now that thought is in your head, I bet you are wondering what it would be like. Well now is your chance to find out. Sonisphere are offering King For A Day tickets to all you folk who wish to rock out like royalty for a single day, rather than the whole weekend. The King For A Day ticket offers you the chance to watch your favourite bands knowing that you can then head back to an exclusive area close to the arena, avoid the queues, and have a royally refreshing beverage. As well as having its own bar, the area will also have plenty of luxury thrones (toilets) and many fancy extras, which will be fit for a King, obviously. Priced at £155 for the Friday and £175 for the Saturday and Sunday (booking fees included), the ticket includes access to the main arena on the day you choose, parking and access to the exclusive area until it closes at 12-midnight. Crowns are optional.